40D shutter hesitating, what do I do?

I'll preface this with the fact that in November I purchased a (used- ~7K actuations) 40D that seemed to be in mint condition. It worked fine. I used it at a number of indoor and outdoor occasions with no problem-probably shot close to 1K photos over the course of 2 months.

The first time I noticed an issue was when we were decorating our Christmas tree-low light, using my 40D with 580EXII and Tamron 17-50 lens. About a third of the time I would press the shutter, nothing would happen. As if it didn't even try to focus, or if it was focused, it wouldnt' go through with the shot. Tried without the flash and same issue, tried several modes (auto, M, Av, etc). Seemed to be pretty consistant in the Av & M modes, happened less with auto or maybe that was my perception.

Didn't shoot much over the holidays, then I tried to shoot a football game in daylight with cloudcover, using the same camera body with a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8. About half the time the shutter would focus instantly and shoot-the other times, nothing. Same as the time before, it pauses, doesn't even seem to be trying to focus, just nothing for seconds or more. Then the next shot it might work right away. No error messages or anything, just nothing when the shutter is pressed. I could have cried with frustration.

Any ideas? I wondered if it might be a lens compatability issue at first BUT they worked fine initially so I'm pretty sure it is the body. Help, please!

Are you shooting on auto? M, Av, Tv? Are you adjusting your ISO, f-stop. There is a possibility that you are not making the proper adjustments while before pulling the trigger.

Did you change any of your custom functions? Perhaps your assigned your focus to the AELock button.

If it's happening with 2 lenses, then the body seems to be the culprit.

I normally shoot in M. When it was happening for the game, it would work instantly on one player, then a second later (no light, ISO or other setting change) and not shoot the same player again. Even something like a non-moving goalpost.

I was wondering if this is a common error, something a cleaning (doubt it) or other measure would fix, or a send-to-canon fix.

I am having the EXACT issue. Occasionally the shutter release button will not release the shutter.

I'm a 'half presser'. I half press the shutter release to aquire and track my target, then I 'follow through' with the press when I have my shot.

This past weekend I was the event photographer for an Indoor Motocross series. I experienced this over 2 dozen times in the 3967 shots that I fired.

I shoot the 40D with the 70-200 2.8L non IS.

My settings:

'M' mode
1/160
2.8
1600
evaluative
AI servo
one shot
focus point set to 'all' and sometimes just 'center'

and using cyber sycs to trigger remote lighting.

ANyone have any input? Should I just send it to Canon?

regards,

-Todd-

Ugh. Sorry to hear you are experiencing it too, although you had a lot less incidence. I'm hoping someone comes along telling us it's an easy/cheap fix.

I'm a half-presser too, is that bad?

I think there have been a few other threads on this before. There is something wrong with the contacts in the shutter button itself. I've heard of remedies such as spraying contact cleaner around the button itself and the pressing down while rotating the button to clean the contacts.

rdompor wrote in post #7059979
I think there have been a few other threads on this before. There is something wrong with the contacts in the shutter button itself. I've heard of remedies such as spraying contact cleaner around the button itself and the pressing down while rotating the button to clean the contacts.

if this is it, borrow a battery pack with the vertical buttons and test. If the second set works fine, then it may jsut be the contacts on the main button.

Sounds like a shutter button problem - had same issue my old (now dead) Digital Rebel.
I've heard anything from $150-350 to fix. There are videos online that show how to "do it yourself" if you're feeling brave - and assuming it is the shutter release - The vertical grip test as mentioned above is the best way to answer that...
I hope mine doesn't do the same - luckily mine came with a 4 year extended warranty...

rdompor wrote in post #7059979
I think there have been a few other threads on this before. There is something wrong with the contacts in the shutter button itself. I've heard of remedies such as spraying contact cleaner around the button itself and the pressing down while rotating the button to clean the contacts.

Yeah, I remember at least two other threads in the last month or so with this issue.

I can't find them right now though.

Could be a lens issue as well did you try a different lens? the button seems unlikely .. try and take the lens off and snap a picture.. yes i know no lens picture will not give you anything but to make sure it will fire the shutter .

Thanks for the heads up on the button contact perhaps being the issue. I pulled it out a little while ago to test, and I couldn't get it to replicate the problem again. I can't imagine that it would be user error, but if the contacts are bad, why would they work consistently sometimes and then sometimes not? Powering on/off and removing/replacing the lens didn't seem to affect it during the game when it was happening every few shots.

I don't know anyone with a 40d grip to check it with, most of the people I know IRL have Nikon systems.

If you have remote shutter, wired or wireless, it’ll also work for this test.

rdompor wrote in post #7059979
I think there have been a few other threads on this before. There is something wrong with the contacts in the shutter button itself. I've heard of remedies such as spraying contact cleaner around the button itself and the pressing down while rotating the button to clean the contacts.

DDCSD wrote in post #7060133
Yeah, I remember at least two other threads in the last month or so with this issue.

I can't find them right now though.

Yip, they are right...

This is one:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=610926
And the second:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=616142
And a third (not only the 40D...):
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=625866

Read these through and you probable will come to a good solution.
And, by the way. now you know you're not alone

But mine is still working oké after the contact cleaner job.
Have fun
Ad B

As odd as this sounds..


Re-charge your battery


Had that issue, took the battery out and inserted a different one, worked great..

Re-charged the battery I was using, though it was "freshly charged"

Never had the issue again..